Product Forecast

Top Fashion Trends for

2022 & Beyond
Regenerative bast fibres, feelgood feet treats and versatile
rash vests are among the fashion trends tipped by our
forecasters for 2022 onwards

the WGSN Trend Team

12.02.21 · 4 minutes

Jessie Wong for WGSN

Bast bres
Bast bres, farmed regeneratively, will rise in importance as the fashion
industry looks to diversify away from cotton.

The bast fibre group, which includes flax (linen), hemp, ramie and jute, support
regenerative agricultural practices that can help the soil sequester carbon. Pure
linen, being a biodegradable natural fibre, needs a fi h of the fertiliser required for
cotton, less water to grow and draws carbon into the soil, making it a much-lower-
impact crop. Linen, as the best known bast fibre, is already growing in popularity in
the fashion industry due to its natural performance and eco-friendly associations. It
is also cooling, moisture-wicking, absorbent, breathable and durable, with inherent
antibacterial, moth- and stain- resistant properties. Along with linen, hemp is big
news in denim circles, while jute is expected to make an impact in footwear and
accessories.

Jessie Wong for WGSN

1
Feelgood footwear
The comfort we’ve come to demand from shoes is transitioning into the realms
of wellness through a new focus on built-in footbed functionality. 

This is all about treating your feet to a self-care recovery massage post-exercise. US
brand HOKAʼs Ora recovery range is a prime example, designed to heal the feet a er
long runs. Made entirely from rubber, its midsole is filled with EVA foam to create a
lightweight supportive feel on the foot, while US-based Terreliqueʼs recycled plastic
foot massage slide is also infused with peppermint oil. Recovery is a small but
growing area of shoe design. Key shapes for these feelgood feet treats include
slides, slippers and mules, all of which continue to show strong performance in
WGSNʼs e-commerce data, as many of us continue to put our feet up in our homes.

WGSN Original Image

2
The rash vest
The rush to embrace the outdoor boom, combined with the rise in the
popularity of skating and sur ng, means consumers are extending their
ventures across seasons, with warmer performance layers for beach and bike
days becoming essential.

Womenswear brands like Colombia-based Verdelimon and Agua Bendita are

expanding offerings beyond regular swimwear, and tapping into the rash vest and the
sporty rash suit, looking beyond its performance qualities to its benefits such as sun
protection. Beyond the beach, vibrant vacation versions of the rash vest and the
short rash suit featured on the S/S 22 catwalks, with the vest's body-conscious lines
making it versatile enough to be paired with shorts and skirts, and the short surf suit
looking like a hot new alternative to the romper.

Jessie Wong for WGSN

3
Inclusive intimates
The success of the period pant across all market levels has highlighted the
opportunity to provide garments that deliver on wearable wellbeing, tackling
the challenges women face at different times of life.

This is bringing inclusion to the forefront of the intimates and underwear category by
responding to the challenges of plus size, modestwear, pregnancy, menopause and
older age with performance-based garments that harness fibre innovation to
supercharge design solutions for their needs. Canada-based Thigh Societyʼs sweat-
wicking, so , lightweight and breathable slip shorts help to reduce the discomfort
of thigh chafing, and can be worn under clothes for comfort. Adidas Terrexʼs active
base layers are designed especially for women, with special fit and body-mapped
ʻsweat zoneʼ placements. US-based Elastique Athletics uses MicroPerle beading on
the inside of its leggings to aid lymphatic drainage. All this product innovation is
aimed at targeting the pain points for women and making them feel more
comfortable and confident in their underwear at all times.

Jessie Wong for WGSN

4
Decarbonisation dressing
Post-Cop26 we will enter a decade of Decarbonisation Dressing, where activist
consumers begin to calculate and compare the carbon impact of wardrobe
choices at a micro level.

This is an approach we are already seeing from consumers around food and travel. In
fashion, brands are leaning into design solutions in this space. Note UK brand
Vollebakʼs ʻcarbon blackʼ, a bio-based ink made from black algae waste rather than
the higher-impact pigment, which is o en made from a soot-like powder from
partially combusted petroleum. As consumers begin to count the carbon cost of
their clothing, brands are starting to clearly label their impact. New
Zealand/American footwear brand Allbirds is leading the way. It instituted carbon-
impact labelling last year and recently open-sourced a version of its proprietary
carbon labeller and impact-tracking solution in a bid to encourage other brands to
follow in its footsteps.

WGSN Original Image

5
Orchid ower
Orchid Flower, our Colour of the Year for 2022, fuses nature with technology. 

Forecast in partnership with our sister brand Coloro as the pandemic was unfolding,
this intense magenta captures a vivacious appetite for joy and positivity. As
consumers adjust post-pandemic, vivid, stimulating colours will have strong appeal,
inciting feelings of optimism and vigour. Its hyper-real nature makes it appealing in
both real life and in digital applications, and we expect it to resonate within digital
fashion, gaming and virtual environments, as seen in the hit Netflix show Squid Game.
We selected this particular hue and chroma level with transseasonality and gender-
inclusivity in mind, tapping into its broad and long-lasting appeal.

Jessie Wong for WGSN

6
Key reports

Top Trends for 2022 & Sustainability & Intelligence: Two-Mile Sustainability & Big Ideas 2023: Fashion
Beyond Innovation: Bast Fibres Footwear Innovation: Second-Skin
Comfort & Innerwear